Dodge, Dodge, DeSoto!

[MechanicalManical]

I'll try to contribute back when I can, but I'm pretty new to the Mopar and classic and car scene. These forums have been pretty great searching through!

I've built a couple trucks and in the middle of a 48 international truck project but it's all modern stuff mechanically. 

 

My wife saw these sharp looking outfits for sale on the side of the old two lane black top, the older gentlemen said he didn't think he had the time for them and wanted $1600 for all 3. I don't know why we didn't try to buy just 1 since we hauled all 3 home without even asking the price of each. 

 

1950 Dodge Coronet, gyromatic with original title and dealer badge on the trunk from this very town. Although it's missing a lot of parts and the engine is seized up solid. Is it a 230 flathead?

 

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2miJRGG][img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51396570236_9df5d06a39_b.jpg[/img][/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/2miJRGG]Untitled[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/149922130@N07/]Miko Hall[/url], on Flickr

 

1950 Dodge Meadowbrook, fluid drive has a dealer badge from about 300 miles away, it's just about all there except the 'G' on the hood but has light body damage all over. Also not sure if it is a 230.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2miNCP7][img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51397307324_fafc874b95_b.jpg[/img][/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/2miNCP7]Untitled[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/149922130@N07/]Miko Hall[/url], on Flickr

 

1951 DeSoto custom is also pretty complete but a lot of the trim is beat up. Also no title, and the DMV described how to get 1 similar to David Bowie's Labyrinth.

250 flathead? No idea what transmission is has.

 

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2miJRLz][img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51396570461_c948e47b11_b.jpg[/img][/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/2miJRLz]Untitled[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/149922130@N07/]Miko Hall[/url], on Flickr

 

All 3 have weather destroyed interiors, and lots of bare wiring. 

 

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2m6F4G4][img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51260032167_b98ed36cd6_b.jpg[/img][/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/2m6F4G4]Untitled[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/149922130@N07/]Miko Hall[/url], on Flickr

 

The DeSoto and Meadowbrook might run, I hooked a battery up and jumped the solenoid and they turned over, then I ran a wire from the negative battery terminal to negative coil terminal and heard a click but I don't think there was any spark coming out- could just be the dried out coil plug wire. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 23, 2021 by MechanicalManical

[wagoneer]

Welcome to the forum!  Great finds. You should be able to get at least one car out of the three. The Desoto should have a 251 25" block, and the Dodges will be 23" 230s. Gyromatic and Fluid Drive are the same - fluid couplings. Those fluid couplings can be tricky because they are sealed, and take a special fluid, and connected to hydraulic semi-automatic transmissions.

 

 

[desoto1939]

I see that the desoto still has the original style Autolite Bullet 6 volt Headlight.  These are expensive be careful witht he sealed beam unit.  This is an original headlight to the car.

 

Checkout the Autolite Bullet Headlights on ebay and you will see the prices.

 

Also join the National desoto club.

 

Next years 2022 Convnetion and Car show will be held in Altonna, PA near the end of June.

 

Rich Hartung

Desoto1939@aol.com

 

[ratbailey]

Everyone always says don't buy a car with no title, so I went ahead and did just that. For what it's worth:

https://www.hagerty.com/media/archived/answering-questions-about-lotus-and-vermont-loophole/

 

I got a pretty solid '48 Desoto coupe with no title for about the same price as many floorless rotboxes I had been looking at. Getting it registered in VT was a piece of cake (I'm in NJ). I haven't done the final step of trading in my VT plates for NJ, but the last time I went to the DMV, they made it sound like it was no big thing. We shall see. For me, driving to VT for an inspection once a year would be a little nuts, but Idaho to VT is a hell of a commute.

Edited August 23, 2021 by ratbailey

[Plymouthy Adams]

Funny I have always heard it as    DUCK DUCK GOOSE.....

 

got your hands full with this trio.....the big tooth smile of the Desoto is in high demand and that alone would get you outlay back into your wallet.  Hernando will be a good desk ornament/paper weight if you do go part out.

[MechanicalManical]

Thanks for the replies and information!
 

Too bad about the headlights, on the Desoto only the driver side works, the passenger side had a leak and is corroded inside- that’s why it looks black. 
 

 

the 48 ihc also has no title and the DMV lady stood up and yelled at me when I tried to get a title for it! 
Thanks for the link, I might have to do that if the DMV keeps their hands on their hips about it. 

 

yeah I’m well aware I can’t afford to restore all 3, I’d like to daily drive the DeSoto, and my wife wants to Daily the Meadowbrook, then probably sell the Desoto after a lot of added miles to fund a resto-mod job on the Coronet. 
The Desoto grille is in pretty rough shape, I was going to attempt to weld the broken pot metal back together on the driver side and smooth it out for a paint job. 

 

 

Where is the best place to get tune up parts? I’ll be needing plug wires, coils, points, ignition rotors and caps, then brake stuff etc. preferably USA produced parts if possible. 

Edited August 23, 2021 by MechanicalManical

[chrysler1941]

Keep the Bull Eye headlamps. gently grind chrome edge off, discard reflector .

Get new H4 Lamps, place in oven until glue softens. Remove glass and glue on Bullseye. 

This is what I did and they look good.

[capt den]

fluid drive on the 50 dodge is simply a fluid coupling with a manual 3 speed transmission. very different from a gyromatic. my first car was just like this one. as far as parts, most automotive stores carry most of what you will need, and there are sources such as roberts and bernbaum and others that specialize in early mopars. i think you know the left side wheel bolts are left hand thread, but keep in mind the 6 volt system is positive ground.    capt den

[Bryan G]

Roberts Motor Parts & Andy Bernbaum are the specialists, also MoparPro; out your way, check out Deception Pass Auto Parts for some NOS stuff. Tune-up stuff is easy enough to get through NAPA or other decent auto parts stores, and Rock Auto has a nice selection. I've picked up a lot of stuff via eBay. Those engines were in production forever. Nearly every question you might have can get answered here. Grab a shop manual first; they'll help you with some of the oddball stuck like Fluid Drive and the unique brakes.

[MechanicalManical]

Thanks for the replies! I couldn’t get a fire out of either car, looks like they’ll need a few tune up parts first. 
I got a set of ignition switch and key, but looks like they are for a 54-ish mopar, they don’t have the long metal rod on pin readouts are different. 
I think I’d rather get the cars over to a local locksmith and they should be able to rekey the factory ignition and doors/trunk. 
 

I only have 1 Autolite ‘bull eye’ headlamp, the rest are General Electric replacements. 
 

Can I pull the side door glass out of the Coronet for the Desoto? Desoto has every driver side window broken out. The Meadowbrook needs the windshield glass. The seller included a good back window. 

The Coronet won’t be a parts car but it won’t need the glass or engine/transmission if I can follow through with my plan for it. 

[Sniper]

When I had keys made for my 51 it was easier for me to pull the locks, door, glove box and trunk and take them to the locksmith to get them done.  I already had an ignition key, but it was an aftermarket cylinder that uses a later style blank and not compatible with any other lock in the car.  One thing the locksmith did tell me was that it was good I didn't want the cylinders repinned as he did not have the pings/springs to do that.  I cannot remember if he said they were hard to get, or impossible for that matter.

[Rivka Lela Reid]

Keys: I pulled together a good collection of catalog pages for old mopar keys when my original broke off in the lock.  It took some research to figure out the rxact right blanks.  The big "we can make ANY key" locksmith could not help; but once I had the correct blanks, the local hardware store (bless 'em) cut them and didn't think it was worth charging me!  (That's why I will always pay a little more for hardware etc from them rather than big box: your local hardware store should know your face!)

 

Titles: FWIW, I registered my 41 Plym in NY State based on a slightly skanky bill of sale.  In New York, older cars aren't titled, and the registration is used just like a title to transfer ownership.  When I moved to Massachusetts there was no issue titling it once inspectors determined the numbers were right.  So, hurray for me, but overall, getting a title to an atypical car can be difficult: friends who have bought repaired "salvage" vehicles have never been successful. 

 

Good luck with your Vermont thing - in Mass you MUST be able to prove residency to register; but maybe VT is different.  After all, VT (as well as western Mass) do have a lot of folks from NY with vacation homes up here, and I think it's a little "statusy" to park in NY with VT plates.  Pretty much proves you are and older, tenured academic!

 

[Rivka Lela Reid]

On 8/23/2021 at 2:10 PM, MechanicalManical said:

Too bad about the headlights, on the Desoto only the driver side works, the passenger side had a leak and is corroded inside- that’s why it looks black. 

OK, if it's dark inside, I guess it's dead.  But on these classic old 6v positive ground systems, at least for 1941, I found the only way to get good light from the passenger side bulb was to run a nice copper wire from the headlight bucket to the (ground=positive) battery terminal.  The power has to cover a lot of wired turf (battery to dash to lights...) and chassis and body corrosion can interfere with the grounding. 

 

It can be helpful to run a subtle line back to the rear to get a good ground for the back lights.  Adding these two direct wire grounds pretty much solved any "weaknesses" that the 6v systems are unfairly accused of (your opinion may vary).  If you switch to Halogen (only type easy to get now), be aware they take a moment to light up, and there is a big draw when first turned on (takes more to get them lit than keep them lit).  So, 12 gauge wire and clean connections.